January 18- Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER S298 AHALL BE.

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ON JANUARY 18TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR HOLY FATHER ATHANASIUS THE GREAT OF ALEXANDRIA

Our Holy Father among the Saints Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled "Athanasios"; from Greek, "immortal") was a bishop of Alexandria and major theological writer in the 4th century. He is also called Athanasius the Great and (by the Coptic church) Athanasius the Apostolic. He was born in 298 A.D. and fell asleep in the Lord on May 2, 373 A.D. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is January 18th.

He was born to pagan parents. When he was in school he saw a group of Christians acting out services and when he asked to join them, they refused. From then on he declared himself Christian. The Patriarch at that time, Pope Alexander, predicted that he would eventually hold a great position.

Before reaching the age of 20, Athanasius wrote a treatise entitled On the Incarnation, affirming and explaining that Jesus Christ was both God and Man. In about 319 A.D., when Athanasius was a deacon, a presbyter named Arius began teaching that there was a time before God the Father begat Jesus when the latter did not exist. Athanasius responded that the Father's begetting of the Son, or uttering of the Logos/Word, was an eternal relationship between them, was an eternal relationship between them, not an event that took place within time. Thus began catholic Christianity's fight against the heresy of Arianism.

Saint Athanasius fought consistently against Arianism all his life. As a deacon, he accompanied Alexander of Alexandria to the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., which produced the Nicene Creed and anathematized Arius and his followers. The Coptic church maintains a tradition that Athanasius was the main author of the Nicene Creed, and has therefore given him the title of Defender of the Faith.

On May 9, 328 A.D., he succeeded Alexander as bishop of Alexandria, becoming the 20th Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria, a position which he held for 45 years, 16 of which he spent in exile. As a result of rises and falls in Arianism's influence, he was banished from Alexandria only to be later restored on at least five separate occasions, perhaps as many as seven. This gave rise to the expression Athanasius contra mundus, et mundum contra Athanasium or "While the world is set against Athanasius, Athanasius is equally set against the world." During some of his exiles, he spent time with the Desert Fathers, monks, and hermits who lived in remote areas of Egypt.

Saint Athanasius is also the first person to identify the same 27 books of the New Testament that are in use today; up until his Paschal letter, various similar lists were in use. However, his list was the one that was eventually ratified by a series of synods and came to be universally recognized as the New Testament Canon.

He also wrote a biography of Anthony the Great that later served as an inspiration to Christian monasteries in both the East and the West. The Athanasian Creed is traditionally ascribed to him, though it is likely not his work.

Saint Athanasius was also the first to introduce the 40-day Lent to the Greek Orthodox Churches in Egypt through his writing of Festal Letter XII around 337 A.D.

The Saint was originally buried in Alexandria. His holy body was later transferred to Italy. Pope Shenouda III restored the holy relics of Saint Athanasius to Egypt on 15 May 1973, after his historic visit to the Vatican and meeting with Pope Paul VI. The holy relics of Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria are currently preserved under the new Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Deir El-Anba Rowais, Abbassiya, Cairo, Egypt.

The following is a Troparion (hymn) to Saint Athanasius sung in some Orthodox churches:

Holy Father Athanasius, like a pillar of orthodoxy you refuted the heretical nonsense of Arius by insisting that the Father and the Son are equal in essence. O Venerable Father, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

(Source: Orthodox Wiki)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

January 17 - Life of Our Holy Monastic Father Anthony the Great

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ON 17th JANUARY WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF OUR MOST HOLY MONASTIC FATHER ANTHONY THE GREAT

The venerable Anthony the Great was born in Egypt of noble parents known for their piety. He was brought up at home and had no dealings with outsiders.  

When our Saint was about twenty years old, his parents died, leaving him in charge of the house and his sister. He did not alter his habit of attending church frequently, and while listening to the Holy Scripture, often meditated on how the Apostles renounced everything to follow the Savior. He kept turning over in his mind how, in the book of Acts, many had sold their possessions and "brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles" feet to provide for the poor (Acts Ch.4). One day, while reflecting on the earnest faith of the first Christians and the "hope which" was "laid up for" them "in heaven", he went to church and heard Christ's words to the rich young man: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow Me: and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (Matthew Ch. 3). Anthony considered this an admonition directed to him personally by the Savior and straightway sold his inheritance. The proceeds were considerable, and the poor received nearly all since Anthony kept back only a small sum for his sister, who was young and sickly. He committed his sister to the care of virgins whose character and way of life were well known to him, with the understanding that they would betroth her to Christ and rear her in piety. Then, free of the world and its snares, he devoted himself to a life of asceticism.  

In those days there were as yet few monasteries in Egypt, and no solitary had penetrated the trackless desert, but whoever wished to serve Christ and save himself retired to some solitary place near his own village to practice virtue. Near the settlement where Anthony lived, there was an old recluse who had retired from the world in his youth. Anthony was edified by him, decided to emulate his way of life, and began withdrawing to various isolated locations nearby.  Whenever he heard of other solitaries, he sought them out as a bee seeks flowers, and finding them, never left until he had collected the sweet nectar of edification.

Having made a good beginning, the blessed one daily intensified his labors. He toiled at his handicraft, basket-weaving, in obedience to Saint Paul, who said, "If any will not work, neither should he eat" (Matthew Ch. 6). With his earnings, he bought bread for the poor. From the Holy Scripture, he knew how much it behooves us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians Ch. 5); therefore, he sent up continuous entreaty to the Lord. So deeply impressed in his mind were the words of the Gospel that his memory served him instead of books.

Anthony's evident holiness quickly won him the love of the ascetics whom he visited. He observed and imitated the virtues of each. From one he learned self-restraint, from another how to console the brethren, from another meekness, from another how to keep vigil, from another to heed holy books with the utmost attention, from another how to fast, from another to sleep on bare earth, from another patience, and form another humility. Having derived as much profit as possible from all the monks in the region, Anthony finally secluded himself in a cell and applied himself wholeheartedly to putting into practice what he had seen. So doing, he soon became well-known in the vicinity, and the neighbors and other monks began visiting him frequently. The elderly regarded him as a beloved son, the young as an esteemed brother, and all agreed that he had early attained a high level of sanctity.

Anthony's success incited the envy of the hater of Christians, the devil, who devised schemes to prevent our Saint from achieving salvation. Satan called to the blessed one's remembrance his former possessions, care of his sister, and nobility of origin, as well as various tasty foods and other vain pleasures of the world. He also pointed out the difficulty of attaining virtue, the arduousness of the path to holiness, the frailty of the body, and the long struggle that lay ahead.

Anthony battled constantly against the vicious attacks and even beatings from demons. The Saint testified that the blows the demons delivered surpassed man's ability to endure, but that the compassionate God, Who never forsakes those that hope in Him, intervened to save him from death.  

Our wondrous holy Father occasionally would descend from his mountain to visit the brethren, and since God had revealed to him that he would soon die, he told them the last time he came down, "I will not see you again in this life. I am a hundred and five years old and am ready to go to my rest." The brethren wept, mourning over the elder as though he had already reposed, but he used the opportunity to exhort them to virtue." "Regard each day as your last, guard your souls form vile thoughts, and emulate the Saints. Keep a distance from the ungodly. Preserve the tradition of the holy Fathers and adhere steadfastly to the pious and blameless faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have learned from the Holy Scripture and in which I have nurtured you."

Saint Anthony did not wish to be glorified by men even after his death, but was determined to meet eternity in seclusion; therefore, after healing the monks farewell, he returned to his beloved dwelling upon the mountain. After several months, he fell ill. Two of his disciples had been living with him for the last fifteen years, serving him in his old age, and he summoned them and explained, "I am about to "go the way of all earth". The Lord has called me, and I am anxious to see heaven...Put your hope in Jesus Christ, trust in His name with your whole heart, and you will see the evil spirits flee. Amend yourselves, and you will certainly be rewarded in heaven. Then he fell asleep in the Lord and was numbered with the Holy Fathers. Obedient to his command, the monks wrapped his body and committed it to the earth. Till this day no one knows where it lies. The Saint's disciples gave the sheepskin and old cloak to Athanasius, who accepted them with pleasure. He counted them his greatest treasures, for whenever he looked at them, he remembered Anthony's face.

Thus did the venerable Saint Anthony live and die. His fame spread throughout the whole world, as did devotion to his memory. He was glorified for his virtuous life and not because he wrote books, was of the most distinguished stock, had received a brilliant education, had mastered the refinements of rhetoric, or had amassed perishable riches. In him was fulfilled the word of the Lord: "Them that honor Me I will honor" (I Kings Ch. 2). The Saint did not live in a populous city where men could observe him, but in the most remote location possible, deep in the desert. Yet the inhabitants of Spain, Africa, Italy, Illyricum, and Old Rome all knew of him, not because Saint Anthony desired it (for he purposely hid on the mountain), but because the Lord wished to utilize him as a lamp to illumine all. Everyone who heard about the elder longed to attain the virtues, and marveling at his life, praised the Heavenly Father, to Whom, with His Only-Begotten Son and All-Holy Spirit, is due honor, glory, thanksgiving, and worship unto the ages. Amen.

Besides those recorded in the Life written by Saint Athanasius the Great, additional edifying stories about the godly Anthony have reached us.

The venerable Saint Anthony, great among the Fathers, overcame every demonic temptation. He regarded the evil spirits as beneath contempt and never succumbed to their tyranny. Frequently he beheld Angels and devils with his physical eyes, witnessing how they concerned themselves with human affairs, each striving to incline men to their side. Being extremely advanced in virtue, he heaped scorn upon the evil spirits and taunted them for having fallen from heaven and become inheritors of eternal hell-fire. Saint Anthony dealt harshly with the adversaries, having attained a high degree of dispassion and the utmost perfection, and become a vessel of the Most Holy Spirit.

Not in vain do we relate this story, brethren, but so that you may be assured of God's goodness and compassion. If He is ready to accept the devil's repentance, then how much more that of man, for whom He allowed His blood to be shed? Are you a sinner? Then repent. Do you consider that you are not a sinner? Then you will be tormented forever in Gehenna, more severely than the demons, not because you have indeed sinned (for we have all transgressed, except God alone), but because you refuse to repent. Beseech the Judge to show mercy before it is too late, for death awaits us all. If you die without repentance, having pleased Satan by iniquities of every sort, you will be hurled into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. If, however, flee sin and please God by repentance and confession before your end, you shall inherit indescribable blessings. Turn to the Merciful Judge and render yourself worthy of exaltation and a dwelling with Angels, where ineffable felicity abounds and there is eternal joy. May this be the lot of us all through Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT ANTHONY THE GREAT:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

January 14 - Feast of Our Holy Mother Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ON THE 14th OF JANUARY, THE HOLY CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR HOLY MOTHER NINA, EQUAL-TO-THE APOSTLES, ENLIGHTENER OF GEORGIA

Nina (better known in Georgia as Nino), our holy Mother, and her missions among the Georgians, also known as the Iberians, were foretold on the day of Pentecost. This land today is situated in western Transcaucasia, bounded by the Black Sea, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. According to Georgian tradition, the holy Apostle Andrew, the First-called and Apostle first preached Christianity in those parts, leaving as his successor Saint Nina.

The Lot of Iberia-Georgia Falls to the Mother of God

Stephen the Hagiorite records the following narrative. After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), the Apostles cast lots that they might determine where each should go and preach the Gospel. The Virgin-Mother also requested a lot for herself, so that she might share in the preaching. Therefore, she said, "I too, desire to take part in the preaching of the Gospel and wish to cast my lot with you to receive the land which God shall show." Then with fear and reverence, they cast for the Theotokos; and her lot fell on the Iberian land. The Most Pure Mother of God then joyfully accepted her lot.

After the day of Pentecost, the Theotokos was planning to set out for Iberia at once, but the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her, restraining her, saying, "Virgin Birth-giver of God, Jesus Christ Who was born of thee, thus commands: 'Thou shall not depart from the land of Judea, that is Jerusalem. The place assigned as thy lot is not Iberia but Macedonia's peninsula, Mount Athos. After some time thou wilt have the work of preaching in the land to which God will guide thee. This place shall be greatly blessed and illuminated in the light of thy countenance.' The Archangel then revealed to her the following about the Iberian land: "The land which fell to thee will be enlightened in the latter days, by another woman, and thy dominion will be established there." These words were fulfilled three centuries later when the Virgin Mary sent Saint Nina, "Equal-to-the-Apostles," whom she blessed and helped in proclaiming the Gospel to the Iberians.

Saint Nina and Her Family

Nina, our holy mother, hailed from Cappadocia. She was the only daughter of pious parents. Her father, Zabulon, was a Roman general and a kinsman of Saint George the Great-Martyr. Zabulon originally came from Cappadocia but was stationed in various places. Nina's mother, Susanna, was also from Cappadocia. Susanna's parents had reposed early and left two children, unprotected by human means. Susanna and her brother Jevenal decided to take the long journey to the holy land and Jerusalem. The two orphans found refuge in the Church of the Resurrection. At length, Juvenal was appointed as a steward (economos) of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ. Susanna went into the service of the most pious Deaconess Niofora (Sara-Niofora) of Bethlehem.

Following the marriage between Zabulon and Susanna, the newlyweds decided to return to their homeland of Cappadocia. This blessed couple gave birth to the blessed Nina, the enlightener of Georgia. When Nina was twelve years old, she accompanied her parents to the holy city of Jerusalem. Her father Zabulon, for the great love which he bore God, decided to become a monk. With the consent of his wife and with the blessing of the bishop, Zabulon took refuge in the wilderness of Jordan, where he remained concealed as a hermit. When he bade farewell to his young daughter, it was a tearful parting. Zabulon commended her to the care of God, the Father, and the Protector of widows and orphans. Zabulon then said to Nina, "Fear nothing, my girl. Be the sister of Lazarus.  If thou wilt love Christ as they did, then His grace shall never depart from thee."

Susanna took her daughter and went to her brother at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Juvenal made Susanna a deaconess, and she served in the Church of the Resurrection, her duties including ministering to the poor and giving assistance to women in need of help. Nina, for her rearing and education, was assigned to the pious Eldress (Gerondisa) Niofora, who knew well Christian truths. Nina was intelligent, quick-witted, and attentive. After two years of study under Niofora's tutelage, the apt Nina, with the grace of God, was well versed in the doctrines and canons of the Faith. Diligent study of the Holy Scripture on a daily basis bore much fruit.

Day and night the holy maiden kept constant in fervent prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, entreating her and saying, "Vouchsafe me, O Lady, that I might go to the Iberian land, that I might venerate thy beloved Sons' tunic, which thou didst fashion with tine own hands!" It was believed that the tunic was kept in the city of Mitskhera, Iberia by a rabbi named Elioz, who obtained it from the soldier who had won it by lot at the foot of the Cross. The soldiers did not wish to tear Jesus' tunic (χιτών), which "was seamless, woven from the top throughout," so they said, "Let us obtain it by lot for whom it shall be (cf. John 19:23; 24; Luke 23:34). The Panagia or All-Holy Mother of God heard the maiden's supplication and appeared to Nina in her sleep, saying, "Go to Iberia, since thou dost so desire it! Moreover, thou shalt preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who inhabit that land, for they are unenlightened. Christ shall grant thee an abundance of grace, and I shall also help thee." The humble Nina replied, "I am just a weak maiden. How can I be vouchsafed such an important ministry? How shall I perform such great work?" The Theotokos answered, "Take this cross. It shall be a shield and guard against enemies both visible and invisible. Thou shalt raise up this saving sign of the Faith. By the power of the Cross, thou shalt lead the land of the Iberians to faith and belief in my beloved Son 'Whom willeth all men to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4)." When the holy maiden awakened from her sleep, she beheld that marvelous cross in her hands. Even as in the vision, it was fashioned from vine shoots. With tears, she began kissing the cross. She next cut a portion of her tresses and braided it to the cross.

Saint Nina began boldly and openly preaching the Gospel word. She invited the Iberians, both the idolaters and Jews, to come to repentance and believe in Christ. Her piety, righteousness, prudence, and pure manner of life were known to all so that they willingly heeded her preaching. Man, especially among the Hebrew women, were oftentimes going to her that they might listen to her words and new teaching concerning the Kingdom of God and everlasting salvation. As a result, many of them became secret Christians.

Saint Nina was assured by divine signs that the Kingdom of God and the salvation of the Iberians were near. She did not cease preaching the word of God to the people. In this holy labor, she toiled together with her disciples, especially Sidonia and her father Abiathar. The king's consort, Queen Nana, a gravely ill woman, was harsh and a fanatical devotee of the inanimate idols. She had been responsible for the erection of the statue of the shameless Aphrodite in Iberia. She also condemned the Christians in a private capacity. But the grace of God which heals all sicknesses and weakness and fulfills all that is lacking quickly cured even Nana of her disease.

This came about when Nana the Queen had become extremely ill. The Queen was brought to St. Nina. Nina bade those close to the queen to place on her on the bed of leaves. Saint Nina then knelt down and offered up a fervent prayer, entreating the Lord, the Physician of souls and bodies, to heal the queen. Then the Saint took her cross and placed it n the head of the sick woman. She repeated this on the queen's feet, shoulders, and sides. Thus she traced over the queen the sign of the Cross. After this had been done, the queen rose up from the bed healthy. The queen then gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ and boldly confessed to Saint Nina, the people, and then her husband, that Christ is True God. Nana made Saint Nina her particular and trusted friend and her only confidante.

After her holy mission was completed Saint Nina received a divine revelation of her approaching end. Concerning this, she informed king Mirian by letter. The Saint invoked upon the king and his kingdom the blessing of God and the All-Holy Virgin.  She also supplicated God to send for their protection and fortification the invincible power of the Cross of the Lord. She also wrote: "As a pilgrimage and wayfarer on the earth, I am leaving this world and am going the way of my fathers. I beseech thee, O king, to ask Bishop John to come to me that he might prepare me for the everlasting course because the day of my death approaches." Then in peace, after years of serving an Apostolic ministry, she surrendered her soul into the hands of God. Saint Nina reposed on the 14th day of January, in the year 338 A.D. She was 67 years old. In the year 342 A.D. king Mirian laid the foundation of a church at her grave. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

A Steward of St. Andrew is also an Ambassodor of the Church

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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A STEWARD OF SAINT ANDREW IS ALSO AN AMBASSADOR OF THE CHURCH

Every year the parish conducts elections for the new members of the parish council and every year following the ratification of the elections by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael the new members of the parish council take the oath of office before God and fellow parishioners.

As leaders of the parish, the parish council members are on the front lines and are able to have a long-term positive effect on their parish. To serve on the parish council is a ministry and those who serve are called to represent Christ to all whom they meet in all aspects of life.

The holy mission of the parish as defined in the Uniform Parish Regulations - and therefore the mission of the Parish Council -- is "...to keep, practice and proclaim the Orthodox Christian Faith pure and undefiled."

Above and beyond the many and various responsibilities of the members of the parish council, they also represent the community, and therefore, become the ambassadors of the church wherever they go. However, they are not the only ambassadors of the parish. Every steward of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Andrew in South Bend is an ambassador. By being an Ambassador you, the individual member, must also reflect the Orthodox Christian values, conduct, proclaim the Faith and keep it pure and undefiled. Every Orthodox Christian should be a supporting member of the parish, in other words, everyone should make a financial commitment to the operating needs of the church.

I find it alarming and astonishing that there are still Orthodox Christians attending the divine services, receiving the sacraments, are served by the parish priest of Saint Andrew and yet do not think that they too have the same responsibility as everyone else of supporting the church financially. No parish is self-sustaining! Only those people that attend once a while may not think of it but not someone who attends frequently. 

There are always those individuals who are indifferent, those who do not practice the Faith, those who are not willing to support financially the local church, those who have no commitment to Christ, those who find a million excuses of not giving to the church, individuals who pretend not to know. No one with common sense or any interest or concern in the church can ever believe that the local church is self-sustaining and does not need assistance.

You, the existing and supporting members of the church, the stewards, should, as the ambassadors of the parish, inform others of how the local parish functions and the responsibility of not only to support the parish financially but also to contribute and work to raise funds. It is not what the parish can do for you but what you can do for the parish!

The mistake that everyone in the parish makes is to place all the community responsibilities, all concerns, all financial obligations, all fund-raising, etc. on the shoulders of the volunteer members of the parish council. That is unjust and totally wrong. We must all share in the great responsibility of running the local parish and to restrict our support by just giving an annual donation and nothing more. Remember that Stewardship means, Time, Talent, and Treasure!

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless all of you as you continue to serve Him with selfless love, faith, and humility.

In Christ's Divine Service,

+Father George

Orthodox Christian Understanding of the Significance of Prayer

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRAYER
What Prayer Is

Prayer is a universal, spiritual phenomenon, the fundamental and inseparable element of every religion and every personal piety. As such, prayer has appeared in the history of mankind with an astonishing multiplicity of forms and expressions that range from the most crude and primitive to the most spiritually sublime. The tradition of the Holy Bible and of Orthodox Christianity provides an extraordinary perspective from which to see not only the nature and meaning of prayer but also its concrete expression in practice. The basic presupposition of any real and true spiritual prayer is the belief in the existence of the Living God. The believer not only believes that the Infinite and invisible God exists, but that He also reveals Himself to people. It is through this revelation of God that it becomes possible for man to have a personal communion with God. When, therefore, the believer prays, he or she speak directly to God and become aware of a communication with Him. Consequently, prayer presupposes faith in the reality and the presence of God, and means primarily that living relationship between man and God, which is nothing less than a direct and real spiritual contact and personal conversation between persons, between an "I" and a "You". The person who prays is the "I" and the God Who is addressed in prayer is the "You".

When therefore we say that we are praying, we mean that we are talking with and having a relationship with God, as a child speaks and relates to a father or a mother.

Types and Levels of Prayer

In the Orthodox spiritual tradition, prayer has a broad, comprehensive and profound meaning. To pray does not mean simply and only to petition and to beseech, that is, to ask for something from God. This is, of course, the familiar meaning of prayer, and certainly one of the types of prayer. It is important to note, however, that there are various types of prayer, as well as various levels of prayer, which are always analogous to the spiritual experience and progress of each praying person.

The Prayer of Supplication. Prayer begins as petition and supplication when we express our needs and our deficiencies to God. This type of prayer is the most familiar to all of us because this is the type we use most often. We are always aware of our needs and weaknesses.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving. After the prayer of supplication what usually follows is the prayer of thanksgiving. This is a higher type of prayer because the believer does not any longer seek something from God but rather expresses gratitude and thanksgiving to Him for the benefits and the gifts already received. When the prayer of supplication receives its necessary response, the believer usually expresses a prayer of thanksgiving to the God who loves mankind and grants requests. We respond with a prayer of thanksgiving because we recognize and acknowledge the grace of God, which we have received in the past or in the present.

The Worshipful Prayer of Doxology. The worshipful prayer of doxology and praise confirms in a way the following affirmations: "You Lord are God and I am a human person, Your creation. You exist forever and eternally, while I have been created by You and depend upon You." Our life must always be based upon the truth. And the basic truth in this instance is that God is God and man is man, God is the Creator and man is the creation, and not the other way around. When we, therefore, accept this fundamental truth and worship selflessly our most Benevolent Creator, we secure our authenticity and spiritual freedom, our health, and maturity as human beings. The free and selfless worship and praise of God make us truly free and enlightened human beings, who reflect that glory and that honor with which our Creator has endowed us from the beginning. God Himself, of course, does need to be glorified by us. But it is proper and right precisely for the regenerated human nature of mankind to praise and to worship God, using the most pure and most perfect type of prayer. Holy Scripture is full of hymns and praises with which to worship God. When God is praised and glorified by man it is the human person that is magnified and honored precisely because we are able to recognize and honor God Who is infinitely superior to us. By glorifying God the human person fulfills his or her destiny - to be and to act like a child of God, who turns to God in humble yet confident prayer of love and selfless devotion.

Difficulties and Demands of Prayer

It should not be a surprise to anyone that such an important gift of God and such a privilege of man, as is prayer, with its various types and various spiritual levels, should also be accompanied by certain concrete difficulties and demands as we seek to cultivate and develop it in our life.

We should from the star confess that prayer is essentially a daring and dangerous undertaking for man. When a person conscientiously attempts to encounter the Living God and converse with Him, admittedly such a person is actually undertaking an awesome adventure! Every encounter with God is also a crisis, an ultimate event, because truly "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrew 10:31). When we seek to enter into the presence of God through prayer, we are actually approaching Divine fire, which at the same time both attracts us and repels us. During the time of prayer we are required to place ourselves without reservation, but with humility, contrition, and love, before this Divine fire and to become like that biblical bush that burned but was not consumed (cf. Exodus 3:2). This daring undertaking means that we must remove from our old selves everything that separates us from God, that we may rediscover our life anew and regenerate in Christ.

"...When we are truly near to God, we can see far more clearly the great difference which exists between Him and us. But when we are at a distance from God and do not have a relationship with Him, then we cannot successfully distinguish this difference. This happens because the image of God in us is badly distorted, not only our thoughts and our understanding but also in personal reality of our being. This means that the presence of God is absent from our life, and the reality of God is for us nothing but a fleeting fantasy and a discordance, with no resonance in our personal experience. But the closer we come to God, the clearer becomes our understanding of our own sinfulness before the Holy God. Without the Light of the Holy and Divine Presence, our sins seem insignificant, while under the most bright light of Divine Truth and Life our sins acquire all of their tragic depth. Consequently, a desire swells up in us for repentance and spiritual regeneration. (Source: A Prayer Book - An Anthology of Orthodox Prayers by Reverend Father Peter A. Chamberas)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Fanari Camp at Saint Iakovos Retreat Center



My dear brothers and sisters in Christ God,
Glory Be To God!

Our Chicago Metropolis has been blessed with the wonderful St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Wisconsin known also is Fanari Camp.

What is Fanari Camp?

Fanari Camp is a ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and offers the youth of the Metropolis entering their 6th grade school year through their 12th grace school year the ability to share their common faith and heritage through its many sessions and activities.

Mission

Engaging Orthodox Christian youth in exciting, Christ-centered camp experience.

Vision

To bring Orthodox youth closer to God, the Church, and their community.

Values

Safe and supportive. Worship and Prayer. Living the Faith. Love and Fellowship.

Transformation, education, mentorship, service, compassion, joy.

Saint Iakovos Retreat Center

Fanari Winter Camp

Seeing that waiting an entire year for the next session of camp is just too long, Fanari Winter Camp brings all the fun of Fanari Summer Camp to the winter months. Fanari Winter Camp offers two sessions, the first for Senior GOYAns (High Schoolers) and the second for Junior GOYAns (Middle Schoolers). Our most enjoyable activities include: Worship, Orthodox life, Winter Olympics, and much more! Our 2020 Fanari Winter Camp sessions are as follows:

* Fanari Winter Camp/Senior GOYA (High School):  January 17-20, 2020 - $225/per camper.

* Fanari Winter Camp/ Junior GOYA: February 28-March 2, 2020 - $225/per camper.

Please note: The Fanari Summer Camp is over $500 per camper.

https://www.fanari.camp/

Only a few of our parish children had the opportunity to enjoy our Metropolis Fanari Camp  It would be wonderful if not for the Winter program to at least have in mind the Fanari Summer Camp program and send as many of our young people there as possible.  However, we need sponsors and donations to help especially children of families that cannot afford to send their children to the camp.

Our parish children will experience something awesome and wonderful at the camp.  For the first time, they will be in the company of young people their age and young people who have so much in common.  The camp has a wonderful program and facilities and their time at the camp will be memorable for all of them plus they will make new friends from other parishes throughout the Chicago Metropolis.

Please let me know if you wish to sponsor a child/children to the Winter and/or Fanari Summer Camp.

Another wonderful Camp Program is at the Ionian Summer camp in southern Greece.  I will be informing you also about that beautiful Camp and its program very soon.

With love,

+Father George